By 1977 the folks at TSR were starting to think about a way to introduce non-wargamers into the new and increasingly popular hobby of adventure gaming. J. Eric Holmes, a California M.D., professor of neurology, and author of a couple science fiction/fantasy novels, offered to do just that. Using the original three LBBs and the first supplement, Dr. Holmes designed a 48 page version of the rules, introducing the game concepts and taking characters through the first three levels of experience. Dr. Holmes version of the game was influenced by his experience with Warlock, a version of the game as played at CalTech and published in The Spartan Simulation Gaming Newsletter #9. Dr. Holmes Basic became known as the Holmes Bluebook or Blue Box version (referring to the blue cover of the rulebook). TSR sold the new Holmes Basic Set in a box with a dramatic red dragon on the cover in hobby shops, bookstores and toy stores. Inside the box are polyhedral dice and a pack of dungeon geomorphs and a monster and treasure assortment booklet. Later printings replace the geomorphs and monster/treasure book with B1 In Search of the Unknown, an introductory adventure module by Mike Carr.
Although based on the LBBs, the Holmes' Blue Box rules deviates from them in areas. Alignment is expanded to include Good and Evil dimensions in addition to Law, Chaos and Neutral. A combat order is established starting with movement, then prepared spell casting, missile fire and finally melee. Distances are given in feet (and yards for outdoors) rather than inches as in the LLBs. Initiative order is by Dexterity score with the referee rolling for monster Dex as needed. Missile fire can only target unengaged creatures and spell casters must remain unengaged in order to cast spells. An engaged Magic User is limited to defending with a dagger or may use a wand or staff if available. There is a confusing reference to daggers attacking twice in a round and heavy (two handed) weapons attacking every other round (possibly a Warlock influence?). All weapons score a single d6 damage.
I only acquired a copy of the Holmes' Basic many years later, but I recall a member of our gaming group having a Basic Set during the early days and it informing how we played the game (and supplying us with much needed dice!). I am now quite impressed with the Holmes' Basic Set and wished I had purchased a copy much earlier. Remembering back to what it was like to figure out how to play White Box and how difficult it was to get those crazy polyhedral dice in the days, the Basic Set seems like a great solution. In a brief 48 pages, Dr. Holmes is able to give the reader enough information to understand "the basics" of how to play the game and the Box Set gives a player everything needed except imagination. Included in the book is a short introductory adventure, the dungeon of Zenopus, wizard of Portown, which I find to be both entertaining and instructive. The box set includes additional material for the referee in the form of geomorphs or module B1.
Giving some thought to combat using Blue Box conventions, I propose the following:
First round: Roll for surprise d6: surprised on 1-2
State intent (in all phases characters act in order of Dexterity)
Movement
Unengaged spell caster may cast a prepared spell
Missile fire by unengaged character at unengaged target
Melee between engaged characters (within 10'/1" of each other), when moving to engage weapon reach matters - longer weapons attack first
Heavy weapons and light crossbows attack every other round (Hvy Xbow takes 2 rds to reload)
Characters may forfeit an attack in order to parry: -2 to attacker roll
Characters with a shield may roll d6 to block an attack: 1 in 6 success (my own addition)
Withdraw - engaged characters may move away granting the enemy an immediate attack at +2
Changing weapons takes one round
Damage for Heavy Weapons: roll two d6 and keep higher score, all other wpn do one d6
Two weapon fighting: +1 damage to successful attack (my own addition)
Engaged characters may attempt to enter Hand-To-Hand with a successful attack roll
Characters in H-T-H may only use natural weapons or a dagger which gets two attacks!
Fighters may make multiple attacks/rd (equal to their level) on 1 hit die monsters
As a gateway into the hobby, the Holmes Basic Set is a great improvement over the LBBs. It is written to explain many of the game concepts which were not intuitive for me back in 1977. Although not without its own problems, the Holmes Blue Box rules offers many hours of fun and enjoyment using nothing more than the materials contained withing and imagination on the part of the players. Taken together with the White Box (or the Advanced books which are referenced in the Blue Box), Holmes Basic can be the basis of a complete adventure game system easily modified and customized for any campaign. Dr. Holmes is fondly remembered by many in this hobby and with good reason. Through his work many people discovered a rewarding hobby that has given untold hours of enjoyment often stretching over a lifespan.
No comments:
Post a Comment